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Eric.ed.gov – Early Momentum Metrics: Why They Matter for Higher Education Reform. CCRC Research Brief. Number 65

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: In this brief, the authors propose three measures of “early momentum” for two reasons: Research is beginning to show that these near-term metrics predict long-term success, and the metrics focus attention on initial conditions at colleges that are particularly important for solidifying the foundation for student success. While these measures are valuable individually, as a group they give a better picture of the impact of reforms on students, and thus are more valuable if used together. These measures include: (1) Credit momentum–defined as attempting at least 15 semester credits in the first term or at least 30 semester credits in the first academic year; (2) Gateway momentum–defined as taking and passing “pathway-appropriate” college-level math and college-level English in the first academic year; and (3) Program momentum–defined as… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Why Students Do Not Prepare for Math Placement Exams: Student Perspectives. CCRC Research Brief. Number 57

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Drawn from surveys completed by 122 students enrolled in developmental math at four community colleges and from seven student focus groups with a total of 34 developmental math students at those same colleges, this research brief illuminates student experiences with and perspectives on the math assessment and placement process. Findings suggest that many students who go on to enroll in developmental math are unlikely to prepare for the math placement exam, although most students know ahead of time that they are required to take the exam and many colleges make test preparation materials available. Lack of preparation may undermine students’ exam performance and negatively affect the accuracy of their placement. We identify four interconnected reasons why students tend to not prepare for the exam: (1) misperceptions about… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – At Their Own Pace: Interim Findings from an Evaluation of a Computer-Assisted, Modular Approach to Developmental Math

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Community colleges nationwide are looking for solutions to help students complete developmental (remedial) math–a known barrier to graduation. Some are offering computer-assisted, modular developmental math courses that allow students to earn credits incrementally and move through the curriculum at their own pace. One of these modularized courses, ModMath, was created at Tarrant County College (TCC) near Fort Worth, Texas. It reorganizes the content of TCC’s two semester-long developmental math courses into a set of six modules, each of which is five weeks long. The four primary components of the ModMath intervention are: a diagnostic assessment that places students in a starting module; individual registration into three modules per course section each semester; computer-based instruction delivered online through an instructional software program; and personalized, on-demand assistance in class… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Effective Teacher Fellowship: Comparative Analysis of Alternative Certification Programs and Student Reading and Math Achievement, 2014-2015. Research Educational Program Report

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This evaluation report on the Effective Teacher Fellowship (ETF) alternative certification program (ACP). This program evaluation compared the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and Stanford 10 test performance of student samples whose teachers participated in four types of ACPs during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 academic years (ETF, university/community college, education service center, and private entity). The analyses of reading and mathematics achievement revealed mixed results, depending on the test and student grade level. However, among the most notable findings: (1) The 2012-2013 ETF ACP cohort outperformed students of teachers in comparison ACP cohorts as well as all Houston Independent School District (HISD) students on the 2013 STAAR 3-8 math tests (Level II phase-in I, percent met Satisfactory standards), while the university/community college ACP cohort… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – The Math Learning Gap: Preparing STEM Technicians for the New Rural Economy

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The Rural Math Excel Partnership (RMEP) identified math competencies used by technicians in the workplace compared to standards of learning required in the public school curriculum. A modified DACUM process revealed 39 math competencies used by technicians in STEM-related occupations of the rural region. Group interviews with faculty in three community colleges helped substantiate math gaps. A project math specialist and team of teachers identified four types of learning gaps: (1) math competencies not included in state standards; (2) math competencies included in state standards taught prior to Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Algebra Functions and Data Analysis (AFDA) courses; (3) math competencies included in high school state standards that students struggle to learn; and (4) math competencies community college students struggle to learn. Implications include… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Modularized, Computer-Assisted, Self-Paced Approach to Developmental Math

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Community colleges are a large sector of postsecondary education. In 2016-2017, the United States had nearly 1,000 public 2-year postsecondary institutions (community colleges), serving almost nine million students, representing 39% of all undergraduates. The majority of entering community college students require developmental (or remedial) math. Success rates in the developmental math course sequence and college more broadly are discouragingly low. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers alike are eagerly searching for reforms to improve success rates, but there is a dearth of causal evidence on the effectiveness of most proposed reforms. We sought to answer the following question: what effect does a modularized, computer-assisted, self-paced approach to developmental math (compared with a more “traditional” direct-instruction course alternative) have on students’ likelihood of completing the developmental math course sequence? Findings… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Using Khan Academy in Community College Developmental Math Courses: Results and Lessons Learned from Developmental Math Demonstration Project

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE), with support from Lumina Foundation, investigated whether the use of Khan Academy could increase community college student success in developmental math coursework, support embedded math content in technical courses, and prepare students to take or retake college placement tests. Khan Academy, an Open Educational Resource (OER), is a nonprofit organization that provides free online educational resources such as practice exercises, instructional videos and a personalized learning dashboard that empowers learners to study at their own pace in and out of the classroom. Pilot community colleges used Khan Academy’s math content as a supplement in various developmental education delivery models, including flipped, blended, self-paced, modular and traditional developmental education classrooms, as well as in some career and technical courses. A… Continue Reading